James stood in the massive empty door frame. The room before him was a king’s throne room. He looked up to find that its ceiling was arched like the halls. Along the direct path to the throne on the far side of the room were large stone pillars that scorched black by his spell. Further to the left and to the right the room extended past the pillars with intricate designs engraved upon the floor. It seemed that the blast had not spread too far into this room.

He began casting what few buffs he had. A minute later he was as ready as he would ever be. James began his walk towards destiny. From the door to about halfway down the length of the room, the floor was scorched black. The walls seemed to have been spared from the fire. Spaced at regular intervals along the walls were large stone pillars, each scorched black by the fire from his spell.

On the far side of the room was a large throne that faced the doorway seemingly untouched by the fire that had blown off the doors little more than 30 minutes earlier. When he was about 50 feet from the large throne, an imposing figure in red plate mail stepped out from behind the pillar to the left of the throne, if you were sitting in it.

The figure stood no less than 8 feet tall. Above its head appeared its all too familiar name, “Blood-Red Commander Igris”. James realized that even his name was red. “You are a deadly enemy. One misstep and I will fail.” The boss dragged behind him a great sword with his right hand. The great sword was nearly the same length as the boss’ own height. Across its shoulders it wore a long, crimson cape that was tattered towards the bottom. On the boss’ helm was a crest with a long plume of scarlet hair, which descended past its waist, as well as two large crimson metal horns.

James readied his spear and his shield. He had gained five levels since he had gotten here.

Racial Levels

Angel 15 lv

Archangel 10 lv

Seraphim 5 lv

Deity 1 lv

Job Levels

Fenrir’s Chosen 5 lv

Sergeant 1 lv

Commander 2 lv

General 2 lv

God King 1 lv

Spearman 9 lv

Artificer 4 lv

Total level: 55

James was glad for the ability to better work with magic items, be he quickly tempered that feeling. There was only this moment, this fight. In this dungeon he had to obtain the true desire to grow stronger. Not just strength for its own sake, or to be stronger than the next guy. James’ eyes burned with green light. The natural golden eyes of his avatar mixing with the blue eyes of the monarch. ‘I must get stronger! This is my one and only path, my only chance!’

He could not let a single moment slip by, but he had to test something. James gave Igris but a single bow of his head, and to his surprise the boss also bowed his head, before returning to its previous position. ‘So, the Admin had programed chivalry into this boss, interesting.’

‘Chivalry or no’, his feet left the floor as he leapt forward flying toward his enemy. He could hardly see as the boss in one swift motion swung the flat of his great sword towards him. James knew he could not avoid the blow at his current speed.

So, he stabbed Longinus into the floor, leaving a short trail in the stone floor. He stopped just in time, holding onto his planted spear with both hands and all his might. James moved his hands down the shaft of the spear making his body level.

The great sword passed less than an inch over his body, that distance coming far closer to zero as it passed over him. The boss had tried to bring the great sword down upon him but was unsuccessful due to the momentum of his own swing. The boss in his attempt to change course and hit james, had only managed to lodge a third of his sword into the floor.

It looked from James for a few seconds as it attempted to dislodge its sword from the stone floor. James took this opportunity to yank Longinus from the floor and stab at the boss’ sword.

Along with its many grand qualities, Longinus possessed the ability to shatter certain kind of equipment that it pierced, like chest plates, and swords. Igris had managed to draw most of its blade from the stone but not all.

Longinus slammed into the blade causing it to fracture, but it did not shatter. ‘It had withstood Longinus?’ James flew backwards to create some distance between him and the boss.

Igris raised up his nearly broken blade and leapt forward, charging at James. Its speed was on another level. It was on him in seconds swinging down to slice him in twain.

James thrust out his arm holding the shield to meet the descending blade. When his shield bash and the boss’ blade meet the sound of shattering greeted his ears. Shards of metal fell all around him as the boss planted its feet and back peddled toward the throne.

James did not take the time to save this small victory. He had a war to win. James swung hung a left spearing a pillar and using his momentum to swing himself back around and toward the retreating boss.

As he completed his swing, he planted his feet on the pillar and using the full might of his flight and his legs to launch himself from the pillar, pulling Longinus free in the process. No sooner had James left the pillar did the shards of Igris’ broken sword lodge themselves into the pillar. ‘There’s Dominators Touch.”

He swung Longinus around, and rotated so that his stomach faced the floor.

James wanted to win! He wanted it as much as he had ever wanted anything in his life. He gave his loudest war cry, as if declaring his defiance, to declare he would be the victor, and was greeted by the prompt.

Skill “Bloodlust”, has evolved into, “Monarchs Deathly Glare”

Monarchs Deathly Glare- (No Mana) Using strong energy, all within line of sight are put into a state of fear for 10 minutes. Range limit is sight, no limit to number of creature that can be affected. Effect 'fear': All stats -50%

Blood-Red Commander Igris is attempting to resist, “Monarchs Deathly Glare”

Target has failed to resist

Blood-Red Commander Igris’ stats have been reduced by 50% for ten minutes

The boss held out its broken blade, now only half its original size. All the while he was only half his original strength.

Longinus lashed out. He struck Igris where his heart would be.

Skill, “Vital Strike” has been acquired.

James lashed out with Longinus again and again. With four strikes Igris lost his arms. With a slash Igris fell onto his back in front of the empty throne, now missing his legs.

Bleeding condition has been inflicted

James raised up Longinus for the final blow, “You fought well. Now rest!” James activated Vital Strike once more and with a single slash beheaded the Boss.

YOU HAVE LEVELED UP X2

Racial Levels

Angel 15 lv

Archangel 10 lv

Seraphim 5 lv

Deity 1 lv

Job Levels

Fenrir’s Chosen 5 lv

Sergeant 1 lv

Commander 2 lv

General 2 lv

God King 1 lv

Spearman 11 lv

Artificer 4 lv

Total level: 57

Among the class abilities he had gained, he obtained two rather important passive class abilities from being an artificer.

Artificer’s Soul- Your understanding of magic items is unmatched, allowing you to mingle your soul with items linked to you. You are no longer bound by class restriction of magic items. In addition, you gain a +1 bonus to all stats per magic item you are currently have equipped. Increased efficiency and power for magic items you wield.

Artificer’s Body- You are immune to damage from your own spells.

James raised Longinus with a great war cry. Declaring his victory for all to hear. He received four items as the bosses drops. The bosses helm dropped as a data crystal. He quickly pocketed that; he could add that to his current helm later.

Next was a large sack of gold. He opened it and received 500 billion gold. “Sweet!”

The next, a large, flat, orange runestone with a large white symbol on its surface. He knew exactly what this one was, so, he crushed the stone in his palm.

You have obtained the skill, “Dominators touch”

Dominators Touch- No mana required, You can control objects without touching them.

The next was a palm sized green stone with yet another white symbol upon its surface. James knew that this was the hearthstone.

Hearth stone- Crush to escape the Dungeon.

James looked towards the door and reached back his arm launching the stone. He declared with all his resolution to win, “I will never retreat!” A few seconds later he received the several prompts.

You have earned the passive skill, “Warriors Spirit”

Warriors Spirit- While others flee you hold your ground, even to the death. Even when it might have been wiser to flee, you refuse to be moved by anything other than your own will. Grants immunity to knock down effects. Grants immunity to fear effects.

I dub you, “He who will never yield”- The World

James looked around as several multicolor gates began to form in different locations all around the room. No not just in this room. He could see at least one out in the hallway. ‘Is she going to flood the dungeon with more of those fucking golems, or will it be something worse?’ Behind him the remains of the boss, Igris, vanished into white mist.

The Job Obtainment Quest will now begin.

Through every door gate stepped a Death Knight. The death knights wielded several different kinds of weapons, long wavy black blade, black tower shields, black war hammers. “Fuck off! I have to kill an army of Death knights!” James was not happy.

Quest format has been changed from what you know due to interference from higher being, Administrators

Quest has been issued, “Survive and Slay All Enemies”

The stone he had thrown, flew out the door, and down the hall where it shattered against the shield of a Death knight that had just stepped from its gate. James was not going to fuck around here. As several Death knights began to charge him he pulled out his 10th tier warding rod and once more cast, “Extend Widen magic [Nuclear Blast]!”

James placed the epicenter of the spell away from him in the hallway outside the throne room. This time James got to watch as he created something akin to a sun. He was thankful that he did not hear the roar this time, probably his artificer skills.

James watched as the Death knights were incinerated. He received the notice that over 150 Death knights had died, but he had received no experience.

“Damn summons.” No sooner had the next wave of Death knights exited their gates did they two died. It was only when his was almost over did the mages make their appearance. They stepped from the gate, and then they too died. Their bodies falling to the ground before they could take their first step.

In total he had slain 375 Death knights died, along side 75 mages, which he did receive experience for.

You have leveled up!

You have leveled up!

ALL ENEMIES HAVE BEEN SLAIN

THE JOB OBTAINMENT QUEST WILL NOW END

You have been granted the Job Class: Shadow Monarch

You have obtained the Hidden title, “Deathless”

Deathless- You die and yet you live. You no longer are penalized experience when you revive.

Though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you shall fear no evil, for you are beyond death. You are the darkness. -Administrator

You have obtained Class exclusive skills, Extract Shadow, Save Shadow

Extract Shadow

No mana required

A shadow soldier is created from a body without life by taking out its mana.

The chance of failure increases the higher the targets stats are when compared to your own, and the more time has passed since the target’s death.

Shadows able to be Extracted: 0/40

Save Shadow

No mana required

You absorb created shadow soldiers and save them. Saved soldiers can be summoned and reabsorbed whenever and wherever the animator desires.

Saved Shadows: 0/40

Racial Levels

Angel 15 lv

Archangel 10 lv

Seraphim 5 lv

Deity 1 lv

Job Levels

Fenrir’s Chosen 5 lv

Sergeant 1 lv

Commander 2 lv

General 2 lv

God King 1 lv

Spearman 11 lv

Artificer 5 lv

Shadow Monarch 1 lv

Total level: 59

James was very happy that the amount of shadows he could extract equaled the amount he could save. All around him on the floor black tendrils of shadow began leaking from the mages. No Death knights remained, but he suspected that if he had tried shadow extraction on an undead, he would get the notice, ‘Shadow extraction not possible, mana contaminated.’

Please select your command word or phrase

James thought for a moment, and when he though about it he liked the light novels just a bit more. “Rise Up!” Immediately claws made of shadows rose from the corpses of every mage in the throne room.

He checked his menu and saw that 20 of 40 slots had been used. He had just obtained the skill; he was honestly a little surprised it already had this amount of range.

James turned to the corpse of Igris which had reappeared. He walked over to him. He knelt beside the corpse and placed his hand upon its chest. “Do not waste your days protecting the throne of someone who has left long ago. Protect those who are beside you instead. Rise Up!”

James stood as the skill took effect. A clawed hand made of shadow erupted from the chest of Igris and a moment later a nameless shadow stood before him. Then it knelt.

“Your name is Igris.”

Shadows name has been set to ‘Igris’

Shadows level has been set to 5

James turned to see all the shadows awaiting that stood awaiting his orders. “Return.” All the shadows that he had obtained lowered into the ground, becoming but moving areas of black upon it. They all moved and joined his own shadow.

The last shadow to heed his order was Igris. James looked upon him, and Igris his shadow soldier starred back at him. Igris bowed his head and joined the others in James’ shadow.

James lowered his head, and raised his arms, with clenched fists. He brought his arms back down abruptly and gave his mightiest shout. He had done it. He was the victor.

James flew back out of the throne room, after collecting the loot, leaving back the way he had come. He used up his remaining slots raising up the golems he had slain with his first [Nuclear Blast].

James stood before the now reopened gate turning to admire the dungeon one last time before he stepped though.

What greeted James as he left the dungeon gate was a beautiful sunset. “Its Saturday, so let’s see how much of the weekly quest we can knock out before it gets too late.”

James flew over the remains of the forest away from his guilds base. He looked for the tallest tree he could find. Any tree would have done, but he did not want just any tree, he wanted the tallest he could find.

It was about 20 minutes when he finally found a tree, he found acceptable. He checked his quest, [37/1000 km]

It appeared to be a large elder white tree, seemingly bleached by the sun, next to a river that would be too treacherous for any normal man to pass.

James hovered in the air, looking down upon the scene. James looked up the sun had set, and it was now twilight.

It looked familiar; he knew this from somewhere. A single thought crossed his mind, the story of the three brothers from Harry Potter.

James landed on the bank of the shore opposite the tree and pulled out his rod of warding which doubled as a wand. James waved his wand casting the spell, [Plant Growth].

Before he could decide how to make a bridge with the spell, he found that a bridge was already growing. He had cast the spell and the instant he did, its control was taken from him. ‘A scripted event?’

James took the first step and as in the story the leaves of the tree tore themselves free and flew towards and encircling the center of the newly made bridge. From the leaves emerged a figure cloaked all in black. It was death. Death was silent for but a moment before it made its voice heard.

“Congratulations, you have…” Death spoke but then paused. Death fell to one knee before James, “My Lord! I did not expect to see you here.” James was very surprised. ‘Maybe the person who put this in also put in the Solo Leveling stuff?’

“Yes, it is good to see you as well, old friend.” James was not sure about that last part but maybe he could get more out of this by being friendly. Death rose his hooded skeletal face to address James.

“Many have tried to cross this river, all who tried to swim drowned, and all who flew paid this place no heed. But you my lord, you knew that there was something special here. For you I have three, no, four gifts.”

James’ face betrayed nothing, but his heart pounded. ‘Four! I didn’t even expect one!’

“The first.” Death said as he placed his hands together, and as he parted them a glowing shaft of light could be seen. When it was done the light faded and what was left was a wand.

“The Elder Wand for you my Lord.” James graciously took the wand that was presented to him.

“The second… Oh my this cannot do not for you my lord.” Death spoke sounding almost worried. “What seems to be the problem?” “My second gift brings the souls of the dead back to the world, but you can already do this my lord what am I to do?”

James had an idea, “Instead of bringing souls back, why not allow it to actually revive the dead? Even to breathe life into those who are undead.” Death looked upon him, “Had you been any other I would have slain you for asking such a thing.”

James did not miss a beat. “I don’t take such threats lightly Death.” Deaths head dropped as he spoke in a shaky voice, “I had not meant to offend you my lord!”

‘This has to be an actual person; it cannot be an A.I. let’s just play along.’

“I will think nothing of it if you can make the change I have requested to the gift.” Death nodded again and again, “Yes, yes I can do that.” Death leaned off the bridge of roots and plucked a stone from the river, presenting it to James.

The stone in his hand was the size of a jumbo marble. It was a smooth piece of obsidian with veins of gold visible within it. James took this too gratefully.

“My third gift to you my lord.” Death reached into his ribs and from them he pulled out a semi-transparent black cloth cloak. “Is my own cloak.” The instant that James took the cloak from Death’s hand he received a slew of Notifications.

You have acquired the hidden set of world items, the Deathly Hallows.

You have earned the Hidden title, “Master of Death”

Master of Death- To become the Master of Death is not to conquer death. It is meant to be that the "Master of Death" accepts one's own mortality.

“The fourth and final gift for you my lord is this.” Death held out his hand presenting a small replica of a somewhat damaged archway. James’ heart nearly leaped from his chest as he took the small item and read its information.

Archway of the Veil (World Class Item)- Use this item to place the immobile World Class Item, Archway of the Veil. Only those who have witnessed the death of a person can see the veil.

Resurrection stone- Once a week revive a creature without cost. Allows the wielder to cast resurrection. You may choose to use the ability to negate the cost any revival. Mana cost, or otherwise.

Elder wand- Multiplies the power of every spell that the user casts by 10.

Cloak of Invisibility- A cloak that can hide the user from all things, even death itself. Imbued with the spell, [Perfect Unknowable] at ten times the normal power.